After a self-imposed winter break, the Predict360 league is back for the second half of the Premier League season.
The most recent round was the Boxing Day Special on December 26 and with our full compliment of predictors back in action, we look forward to the rest of the season.
Arsenal fan Ted still leads the way, even stretching his lead by a point to five, ahead of Everton supporter Mark.
This week, we can look forward to one Predict360 showdown as Manchester City travel to St James' Park to take on Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have a potentially tricky encounter at Hull City, Everton host Norwich City, Tottenham face London rivals Crystal Palace, and Manchester United look for a return to winning ways against Swansea City.
PREDICT360 TABLE (after 20 rounds)
Arsenal (Ted) – 21pts
Everton (Mark) – 14
Tottenham (Simon) – 12
Man City (Darren) – 13
Man Utd (Moe) – 10
Chelsea (Shivam) – 10
Newcastle (Neil) – 7
TED TOTSIDIS – @TedTots (Arsenal)
What happened last time? It feels like an eternity since Arsenal last played in the league – in fact it was 10 days ago when I correctly predicted the score against Cardiff; a 2-0 win for the Gunners.
A late 87th min goal by Bendtner and an even later 93rd min goal by Podolski were enough to win the three points, maintain top spot for Arsenal for yet another two weeks and help me cement my lead on top of the Predict 360 ladder as well.
This week: This week we travel to the midlands to face a below par Aston Villa side, who haven't really got going since beating us on the opening day of the season at the Emirates, so we'll definitely be out to avenge those dropped points.
For some weird reason though, Villa Park is always a difficult ground for us to travel to and has yielded more draws than wins over the last few years. I don't think that will be the case today cause if we're going to have a crack at the Premiership title this season, we need to win games like these and the entire team knows it.
We haven't been winning pretty this season, which is another sign for me that we've put all the fluff of previous seasons behind us and are truly ready to push on for a major trophy. Aston Villa 0 – 1 Arsenal… I don't care if it's not pretty as long as it's the three points.
SHIVAM MANGHNANI – @ShivamLM (Chelsea)
What happened last time? Chelsea have been very impressive of late the performance against Arsenal seem to lift everyone around the club.
The win against Liverpool was very crucial in the title race, but the most impressive performance of the winter period was the win against Southampton. Mourinho changed it up in the second half with Oscar and Willian and they both showed why they are now considered permanent fixtures in the Chelsea squad.
This week: Hull away should be three points to Chelsea with all due respect to the Tigers. Like against Derby, Chelsea will need to be patient and the goals will come. Whilst having a proper striker still remains an issue it isn't that important considering when the midfield seem to be scoring them. Another comfortable afternoon for Chelsea. Hull 0-3 Chelsea
MARK SCHUMANN – @MarkSchuey (Everton)
What happened last time? It didn't quite go according to plan and it was only a last minute penalty that secured Everton a (deserved) point. Sadly, having predicted a victory it was a blank for my predict 360 title ambitions.
This week: Surely a home banker this. Home vs Norwich who are struggling in the Premier League. Has to be at least a two-goal victory – surely? Everton 2-0 Norwich
DARREN BALL – @AbuDhabiDaz (Man City)
What happened last time? Seems a long time since our last league outing. Our trip to Swansea gave us another victory on the road which hopefully ends the talk of our away form. City are looking very convincing both home and away at the moment.
This week: We're on the road again to Newcastle. A very difficult place to visit and as we restart the fixtures from the season's start, we are hoping for another similar result to when we first played the toon.
City have a great squad to choose from but Aguero looks to be out still along with Jovetic, Rodwell and Richards. Negredo is playing well alongside Dzeko and our attacking style of play is looking very good at the moment. Newcastle 0-2 Man City
MOHAMMED ANABTAWI – @MoeAnabtawi (Man Utd)
What happened last time? After being hammered at work for the past few months, the season United is having is not easing my frustrations. The last time we lost four in a row was apparently in 1961. The title is absolutely out of the question. We must aim for a European spot, and I don’t mean Europa. What United need to do is take things one match at a time. Regroup, forget about past dissapointments and show some urgency. We, the United faithful have stood by our team and manager.
This week: Swansea is fancying their chance of nicking 3 points at Old Trafford and can you blame them? A series of defeats, a depleted midfield and no RVP nor Rooney tonight will make any side fancy their chances against us. Hopefully the Reds prove my prediction wrong and go for a win. Man United 1-1 Swansea
NEIL MITCHELL – @geordiedentist (Newcastle United)
What happened last time? Christmas didn't bring much festive cheer. Since demolishing Stoke we've been impotent in losing at home to Arsenal, rank awful in losing away at West Brom and crashed out of the cup woefully against Cardiff and their mental owner. The schizophrenic nature to our season continues.
As ever under this owner's tenure the club remains a powder keg ready to blow with new tensions rising amongst the ranks and severe questions being asked about the nature of our cup defeat and just how committed this owner is. It's no wonder the manager at times seems over cautious and this seems to spill over into the dressing room, especially when a transfer window is open.
This week: So we await the arrival of Man City. Just what we need. Unbeaten in the league since their last visit to the north east and fresh from thumping West Ham 6-0 (and it could have been double figures).
We are missing our 2 best defenders through injury and suspension, doubts remain over the fitness of our key play maker and generally all is not well. The thin thread of hope that if Sunderland can beat them then surely anyone and and that Pellegrino has just been named manager of the month, which usually is a curse, is not one I'm even going to try and cling to. We'll be lucky to get nil. Newcastle 0-3 Man City
SIMON THURSTON – @SimonPThurston (Tottenham)
What happened last week? A second consecutive win at Old Trafford – something many Spurs fans have never experienced – and suddenly the heavy defeats to Man City and Liverpool are but a dim and distant memory.
This week: Since Tony Pulis took over at Palace, the confidence, belief and performances of the Eagles have improved enormously. Will it be enough to keep them up… only time will tell.
For Spurs, Tim Sherwood looks set to stick with Adebayor and Soldado up front again, with the former netting three goals in his last four outings.
And with this week's opponents scoring only five and conceding 15 in their ten league away matches so far, the Lilywhites will hope to continue their impressive recent league form. For all the talk of a crisis, my team could well be fourth by the end of this weekend's fixtures.
With a renewed confidence themselves, and the team having belief in what Sherwood is preaching, I am predicting another three points for the newly installed manager, and a score of: Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace
